Removing individual mandate while keeping the rest of health care law intact, would be a "nuclear nightmare" for insurance companies

[^_^ 5,021]

When the White House and Democratic lawmakers wrote the health-care overhaul bill, they concocted a sweet coating for the bitter medicine the health industry would have to swallow. In exchange for tighter regulation and numerous new directives, insurers, drugmakers, hospitals, and physicians got some 30 million new paying customers under the individual mandate requiring almost everyone to buy insurance starting in 2014 or pay a fine.

The individual mandate is now under attack in the courts and on Capitol Hill by Republicans, libertarians, and Tea Party enthusiasts who call it an affront to personal liberty. The industry, however, views it as the bedrock supporting the entire health reform law and is lobbying to keep it. The prospect of a vastly bigger market has helped spark a 7.4 percent rise since Jan. 1 in the Standard & Poor's 500 Managed Health Care Index of publicly traded health-care companies.

For insurers, eliminating millions of potential customers while keeping other aspects of the overhaul would be a "nuclear nightmare," says Robert Laszewski, president of Health Policy and Strategy Associates, a consulting firm that works with insurers. It would leave insurers without the extra revenue to cover higher costs from the law's ban on the denial of coverage to people with pre-existing conditions or charging sicker patients higher premiums. "It's the No. 1 lobby issue in the insurance industry right now," says Laszewski.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_48/b4205037210208.htm

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

When the White House and Democratic lawmakers wrote the health-care overhaul bill, they concocted a sweet coating for the bitter medicine the health industry would have to swallow. In exchange for tighter regulation and numerous new directives, insurers, drugmakers, hospitals, and physicians got some 30 million new paying customers under the individual mandate requiring almost everyone to buy insurance starting in 2014 or pay a fine.

The individual mandate is now under attack in the courts and on Capitol Hill by Republicans, libertarians, and Tea Party enthusiasts who call it an affront to personal liberty. The industry, however, views it as the bedrock supporting the entire health reform law and is lobbying to keep it. The prospect of a vastly bigger market has helped spark a 7.4 percent rise since Jan. 1 in the Standard & Poor's 500 Managed Health Care Index of publicly traded health-care companies.

For insurers, eliminating millions of potential customers while keeping other aspects of the overhaul would be a "nuclear nightmare," says Robert Laszewski, president of Health Policy and Strategy Associates, a consulting firm that works with insurers. It would leave insurers without the extra revenue to cover higher costs from the law's ban on the denial of coverage to people with pre-existing conditions or charging sicker patients higher premiums. "It's the No. 1 lobby issue in the insurance industry right now," says Laszewski.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_48/b4205037210208.htm

What the tea party is looking to do is drop a nuclear bomb on the health insurance industry. Looks as if we'll have government run single payer for all before long compliments of the tea party. Who would have thought that it is the tea party that actually works towards a full blown government takeover of the health insurance industry? I start to think that the tea party really is the new communist movement in disguise.

[^_^ 5,021]

... the tea party really is the new communist movement in disguise.

Well, they do hate Wall Street so that's not the stretch some think it is.

[Ban Hammer 13,669]

I start to think that the tea party really is the new communist movement in disguise.

if that were true, the left would be embracing the tea party.

[^_^ 5,021]

if that were true, the left would be embracing the tea party.

The 'left' gave you the mandate, so loved by Aetna and Cigna. Day is night. Night is day. Whatever you believe, the opposite is true

[Ban Hammer 13,669]

The 'left' gave you the mandate, so loved by Aetna and Cigna. Day is night. Night is day. Whatever you believe, the opposite is true

aj is a smart guy!

[Pooky 3,846]

The prospect of a vastly bigger market has helped spark a 7.4 percent rise since Jan. 1 in the Standard & Poor's 500 Managed Health Care Index of publicly traded health-care companies.

Get rid of the private insurance companies altogether. That's what I call a nuclear option.

Take away the for-profit motivation at the basic level of healthcare and not only will the system be more financially efficient, it will also offer a better standard of care, as the caregivers will be able to focus on the patient, rather than satisfying the demands of the bottom line

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The prospect of a vastly bigger market has helped spark a 7.4 percent rise since Jan. 1 in the Standard & Poor's 500 Managed Health Care Index of publicly traded health-care companies.

Get rid of the private insurance companies altogether. That's what I call a nuclear option.

Take away the for-profit motivation at the basic level of healthcare and not only will the system be more financially efficient, it will also offer a better standard of care, as the caregivers will be able to focus on the patient, rather than satisfying the demands of the bottom line

Spot on!

As for the 7.4% rise quoted in the op, I fail to see what that argument actually proves. After all, the S&P 500 - not just that particular index - has gone up right about that 7.5% year to date. What lifted the remaining basket by the same amount f the managed health care index's rise is attributable to the health care reform law? I could understand a citation of that rise and an attempt to suggest causation if the broader market would have performed worse but that simply isn't the case.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Well, they do hate Wall Street so that's not the stretch some think it is.

Why do you love insurance companies?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Why do you love insurance companies?

[^_^ 5,021]

Why do you love insurance companies?

I work for one. What's not to love? The work culture is awesome and the money is good.

[Pooky 3,846]

I work for one. What's not to love? The work culture is awesome and the money is good.

So, basically, you are a leech.

Figures

[^_^ 5,021]

So, basically, you are a leech.

Figures

[Ban Hammer 13,669]

So, basically, you are a leech.

Figures

aj has been on tv. he's mayhem.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Well, they do hate Wall Street so that's not the stretch some think it is.

they hate wall street? guess they never own any mutual funds or have any 401k accts.